Parking Brake Sticking in Cold Weather??

I have a 2019 TRD Pro with 20k km on it and every time the temperature hits zero or lower my parking brake becomes stuck. Is anyone else having this problem? Does Toyota know about it? The dealer warned me not to drive it to the dealership but have it towed, because if I drove it that could void the warranty work.

Very frustrated....

 

Do you use your parking brake all of the time?

 

In the owners manual for my 2016sr5, it says not to use the parking brake during cold weather because it might freeze up. So I think they know about it!

 

That seems ridiculous. So those of us who live in cold places have to risk destroying our transmissions?

 

Don't tell me,tell toyota! See attached file.

 

I've used my E brake lots of time in the brutal cold never had a problem.

 

Sorry, it's Toyota that I'm frustrated with, not you.

 

.pdf says, "If necessary block the wheels ..." How many people are going to do that? carry some logs with you if you buy a Tundra

 

This doesnt just happen in the Tundra. Tomorrow night ill be in Wyoming. What ill do is heat up my brakes before parking my truck. That gets alot of the moisture out. If I dont when I go to leave my parking brakes will get stuck. Then its tap on the drums with a small hammer. Works everytime.

 

Common for all e-brakes. Not just Toyota. I've had it happen to me many times on several cars. The parking brake works a lot like a hand brake on a bike. Typically a cable runs from the lever to the rear caliper. Anywhere water can come into contact with the e-brakes system it can freeze. Keep it cleaned and lubed and you reduce the chances of water accumulation. Or, just don't use it. Park works pretty good. I can't remember the last time I used one, but it was probably 20 years ago when I wanted to induce a drift.

 

So you guys are saying if I haven't had an issue on any of my previous vehicles (in which I set the parking brake every time I park), I shouldn't be at higher risk of issues in my Tundra?

 

1st - It sucks that you are having this problem. I think some of us that live in the snow and ice belt can have problems with the parking brake.

2nd - I have had this problem on my Tacoma and Matrix but not on the Tundra due to me learning from the past vehicles.

3rd - In order to solve the problem I had to clean and check for binding / corrosion. After cleaning, I kept every point lubricated with white lithium grease or Fluid Film.

I had to get under the truck and make sure everything was free from corrosion and only then did I keep up with preventative maintenance.

I know this is not a solution that you wanted to hear, but it's the best to my knowledge.

 

When warm and unstuck I would try to spray all the E brake cables and linkage with WD 40. Then cycle the E brake several times.

 

The Tundra parking brake mechanism IMO is a VERY poor design that has moving poorly protected (in terms of corrosion/rust protection) parts exposed to the elements. I use my E-brake always when parked. Mine froze up multiple times at around 30kmi causing shaking and heating of the driver's side and to a lesser extent passenger side wheels. My dealer checked it and said they lubed it when I took it in for the problem under warranty in year 3. The shaking persisted so I checked and the mechanism (under the driver side rear passenger seat) was very rusty (the rest of the truck underside was clean and rust free) and hardly moved. When P-brake was off it stuck in the near on position not fully releasing. The mechanism was bone dry so the dealer did nothing to lubricate it. I cleaned it up and greased it and the problem went away. It needed to be done at least once a year or it would start sticking again. The best thing I started doing was coating the bottom of the truck once per year with Fluid film and I extra coat the parking brake "cluster" mechanism. No problem since. I do live in a cold climate with winter road salt so it's tough on anything exposed.